Media update


The Times - Ministers were told that civil wedding would not be legal
"A document released under the Freedom of Information Act shows that John Major’s Government insisted a decade ago that the Royal Family would be forbidden from marrying in register offices."

The Guardian - Make it work for us, Ms Tullo
"Easing crown copyright would allow the public to use government data freely, but some officials want the information traded."

The Guardian - Appeals win over 200 longer jail sentences
- 12-year-olds deal drugs on our streets
"Child"Statistics released by Lord Goldsmith under the Freedom of Information Act show that in the past three years, he has referred 339 cases to the appeal court and has been vindicated in 230 of them."


Silicon.com -
"The UK's data protection watchdog has ordered the government to release a controversial secret report detailing the costs, benefits and risks of introducing ID cards."


Daily Telegraph - 80mph limit would save £460m a year
"Raising the motorway speed limit to 80mph would save business and motorists up to £460 million a year, according to a Whitehall study recently released under the Freedom of Information Act."

Independent - Even civil servants say Home Office is failing
"An overwhelming majority believe that officials' incompetence goes unpunished and most are highly critical of their departments' ability to move with the times, according to an internal opinion survey, revealed after a Freedom of Information request by the IPPR think-tank."


Scotsman - City writes off £3m of parking cheat fines
"CAR parking cheats and foreign tourists have escaped paying nearly £3 million in fines in the Capital after thousands of unpaid penalty tickets were written off."


Regional news

Norwich Evening News - 12-year-olds deal drugs on our streets
"Children as young as 12 have been caught by police dealing drugs on the streets of Norwich, an Evening News investigation has revealed. The shock findings emerged in documents released today by Norfolk police under the Freedom of Information Act. In total, 536 children, aged between 12 and 18, were stopped for possessing or dealing drugs, ranging from cannabis to heroin, during the three years up to 2005."

BBC news- MPs criticise Agency hospitality
"The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has seen its hospitality and entertainment budget rise from £7,650 in 2002/03 to £61,642 in 2005/06. The figures were obtained after a BBC News Website Freedom of Information Act request to the EEDA."